Clamp for saddle-posts.



Patented Aug. I, |899. W. C. BROWN.

CLAMP FOR SADDLE POSTS.

lApplimtion tiled June 14, 1899.)

(No Modal.;

" UNIThIi STATES PATENT OFFICE.

lVllililAM C. BROWN, OF SPRINGFIELD, lllASSACllUSlll'll'lS.

CLAMP FOR SADDLE-POSTS.

y SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 630,176 dated August 1, 1899. Application led June 14,1899. Serial No. 720,447. (No model.)

To all wtom 'it nt/0J concern/.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAn C, BROWN, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Springtleld,in the county of Ham pden and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clamps for Saddle-Posts, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to improvements in clamping devices for confining the post of the saddle or seat support in the socket therefor in the tubular frame or for confining the stem of the handle-bar in the tubular head of a bicycle-frame.

The invention particularly relates to that known class of clamp for the purpose designated which comprises a sleeve or thimble whichis contractible about the post, the bushing outside the sleeve, the sleeve and thimble being relatively formed with inclined surfaces, whereby the movement of the one endwise in relation to the other insures the contraction of the sleeve about the post, and an operating-nut engaging one of said parts for imparting the endwise movement thereof in relation to the other.

The object of the present invention is to provide a confining device of the class indicated which is simpler than those heretofore proposed and one that is most efticient and certain in its confining eifect and generally more advantageous and desirable.-

The invention consists in the construction and combination or arrangement of the parts comprised in the post-clamp,al1substantially as hereinafter fully described,and speciiically set forth in the claim.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which the improved post-clamp is illustrated, and in which- Figure lis a vertical sectional view through the portion of the frame of a bicycle comprised at the junction of the upright central member and the top bar and the rear downwardly-extending frame member and through the clamping device, which is shown in connement about the post of the saddle-support. Fig. 2 is a side view of the inner sleeve. Fig. 3 is a cross-section of the same, taken on the line a: zr, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a side view,

partly in section, of the bushing which surl rounds the sleeve; and Fig. 5 is a cross-sew tion of the same on .line 'y y, Fig. 4.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all of the views.

In the drawings, A represents the part of the bicycle-frame which comprises the approximately upright member Ct, having the upi 'ardly-opening socket l).

B represents the post of the saddle or seat support.

The improved clamping device consists of the sleeve C, the bushing D, and the nut G of a particular construction and arrangement the one relatively to the other, as will be now set forth.

The sleeve C is internally of cylindrical form to conform to the post B,'and at its upper end it is provided with the external ange or annular bead or projection d, and said sleeve is externally downwardly tapered, as indicated at f. The sleeve is provided with one slit or kerf h, which extends from end to end thereof,and is provided,furthermore,with one or more slits orv kerfs c', which extend from its upper end downwardly suitably near to its lower end.

The nut Gr is provided internally Within its upper portion with the annular groove j, into engagement with which the external annular projection d of the sleeve may be brought, the latter being contracted therefor, as permitted by the kerfs through its circular wall. The portion of the nut below the groove j is internally screw-threaded, as indicated at m. The externaldiameter of the sleeve is somewhat-less than the internal diameter of the threaded portion ofthe nut, although the external diameter of the flange exceeds the internai diameter of such threaded portion of the nut, and hence while the sleeve-flange is engaged in the nut-groove, so that the nut may be turned relatively to the sleeve, there is an annular space below the flange between the threaded portion ofthe nut and the sleeve therewithin, into which is entered for screviT engagement the externally screw threaded upper end portion m of the tubular bushing D. The bushing externally is of Aa size to conform to the circular wall of the socket b, and it is provided with the tapered internal surface indicated at o, which maybe more or less abrupt or gradual, as preferred. The bushing is provided with one or more slots r kerfs q, extending from its lower end nearly to its upper end.

By turning the nut, the lower end of which is usually seated upon the upper end of the tubular or socketed frame member d, the bushing D is caused to have an endwise movement as its threaded yupper end is drawn farther upwardly within the nut, and the internal side of the doWnwardly-widenin g Wall of said bushing crowding against the outer side of the downwardly-tapered sleeve not only contracts the sleeve most firmly against the post, but the bushing is, on the other hand, crowded for a hard bind against the internal Wall of the socket. a, within which the clamp is applied.

While I am aware that various construe'- tions of clamps for seat-posts and handle-bar stems have been proposed comprising in some y manner the combination of a sleeve, bushing,

and nut, and while I do not wish to be understood as claiming a-clainp having such components, broadly considered, I have in the device shown provided a very superior clamp A and one of advantage by reason of its simplicity, directness of action, and especially because of the construction and arrangement of the nut with the groove therewithin above its threaded portion and assembled in relation to the flange-topped sleeve, so that the annular space is left below the flange for the introduction of the threaded upper end of the bushing, the threads of which are entirely inclosed, concealed, vand protected from dirt and from being jammed.

The only portion of the clamp that is exposed is the nut, which is naturally of an ornamental and sightly appearance.

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In a clamp for a seat-post or other similar part of a bicycle, the combination with the nut having Within its upper portion the annular groove, and internally threaded therebelow, of the contractible sleeve provided at its upper end with the external projection adapted to be engaged in the internal groove of the nut, being therebelow of a diameter less than the threaded internal portion of the nut, and being externally downwardly tapered, and the contraotible and eXpansible bushing, having its wall widening` downwardly, surrounding the sleeve, and having its upper extremity externally threaded and entered within the annular space between the threaded portion of the nut and the sleeve, and screw-engaged with said threaded portion, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

Signed by me,at Springfield,Massachusetts, this 12th day of June, 1899.

WILLIAM C. BROWN.

Witnesses:

WM. S. BELLows, M. A. CAMPBELL. 

